Chapter 5: World

"It's this it?" a slender masked figure mused looking over the beaten members of a karate dojo.

"Do you think it is honourable to challenge a dojo with no real purpose?" an old man asked sternly, obviously the dojo master.

"No but it's damn fun though." The fighter straightened the high mandarin collar of her cerulean tunic.

"You will fight me next." The old man stated boldly taking his stance.

"Gladly jiji." The opponent also dropped into her fighting stance.

"GO!"

The pair was evenly matched. For an old man he could deliver a powerful punch but the fighter was growing bored. As she recovered after leaping backwards, her stance changed a style that ignored defensive manoeuvres and focused all concentration on quick precise strikes. She kept up her volley of punches and occasional kicks until the old master's stamina gave out and he was sent crashing onto the ground.

"You fought well for an old man." The fighter showed some respect and bowed to the defeated dojo. She took her leave over the dojo wall. Someone had been expecting her.

"There!" looks like someone had tipped the police and for once they were quite prompt in their response.

"Shit." The masked fighter leapt from the top of the wall and flipped onto the roof of a nearby stationary road and used the bustling roads as stepping stones, leaping from car to car.

"KIYOSAWA I KNOW THAT'S YOU!" she heard a policeman shout as she skidded down a series of alleyways, discarding the blue festival mask in a trashcan as she dashed by.

"Now we go up." She huffed running to jump and a grab of a dangling fire escape ladder. Rhea didn't stop until she reached the rooftop. "Urgh. I thought I'd never lose them."

The setting sun cast a warming glow on her, as she walked over to the wire fence and looked down on the bustling city.

"No matter how much it changes, I still love this city." Rhea mumbled, resting her back on the fence and slid down onto the cold ground. Shibuya was where Rhea spent most of her childhood or the ones where she wasn't off learning martial arts. "Too bad there are so many rules." She complained to no-one in particular. "I just..." Rhea didn't even finish her sentence and dosed off.

"Rhea. Rhea." Someone shook her awake. As Rhea opened her eyes, she found herself with her head on her school desk, her red haired friend gleaming at her. "Come on sleepy head, schools over. Shibuya nightlife awaits us."

"Hai hai." Rhea shifted and picked her school bag up that hung at the side of her table.

"Did you hear that? I knew they did."

"Bet they're escorts." A group of girls giggled glancing at the pair by the window.

"Especially Iwata, everyone knows she's that kind of girl."

Blatant gossip didn't sit too well with Rayne and Rhea. They liked to express their dislike quite vividly. Rhea grabbed the leader of the group by the shoulder and forcefully turned her around straight into her clenched fist.

"You never learn do you?" Rhea glared at the quivering girl, then promptly left with Rayne.

"You can't get away with it forever Kiyosawa!" she screeched after them.

Rhea turned around with a smug grin plastered to her face "O but I will."

"Hmm." A cooling breeze awoke Rhea. The sky was no longer a palette of pinks and reds but greys and blues. Yawning loudly as she stretched out her legs, something caught her attention: a figure was stood on top of the metal fence looking over the city as she had previously done.

"An interesting place to take a nap." The voice was deep obviously male. As he glimpsed over to her, Rhea noticed his glowing golden eyes, which looked even more impressive in the darkness.

"You're Jack's friend." She stated finally remembering who it was, "Chase...I think."

"I would use that term very loosely." He warned sternly, jumping down from the fence.

"So any particular reason you're here or should I take it as a coincident?" Rhea questioned curiously, finally rising to her feet now that her legs were fully awake.

"I have a proposition for you." Chase stated simply.

"I can see this being 'joining the forces of evil' proposal." Rhea retorted, "I'll tell you what I seem to have to explain to everyone. The only side I'm on is my own."

"Interesting. And what if my offer was beneficial to you then what would you say?"

Rhea became curious to what his deal now contained. "I might be swayed."

"Your skills in combat are rather good. It would be a shame to have you as an enemy. I also heard from Spicer that you have been kicked out from your home?"

"Yes well my parents and I don't exactly see eye to eye." Rhea shrugged "Though I wish Jack could keep his mouth shut sometimes." She sighed her younger brother was such a blabber mouth at times.

"Join me and you can stay at my layer and I can also teach you Tai Chi. This is of course in return for your services."

Rhea thought about it quite quickly "Why not. It's the best...and only offer I've had all day." She mused "Sign me up Chase-dono."